The SEC showed it meant business on Tuesday, by issuing suspensions in the trading on a trifecta of heavily promoted issuers. The Draconian action wiped out $220 million in imaginary value in one fell swoop, as these tickers are now relegated to sporadic Grey Market trading once the 10 day suspensions are lifted. Each one had been subjected to long term promotion campaigns in classic Awesome Penny Stocks emailed newsletter style, but under a group of newsletters with more current banners like "QRC Investment Group", "Elite Penny Stock" and "Penny Stock Expert", among others.

Newly tossed onto the trash heap are Emedia Group, Inc. (EMMD), ImMAGE Biotherapeutics Corp. (IMMG) and AgriEuro Corp. (EURI). Both EMMD and IMMG were halted in the midst of ongoing promotions, while EURI had just recently concluded its second such campaign in just over a year. Curiously, not one of these companies has issued a statement since the trading suspensions were imposed, choosing instead to leave their abandoned shareholders hung out to dry.

It is likely not a coincidence that Arizona attorney, Scott Lawler, represents or has represented all three of these suspended companies. He has also had some connection to similarly and recently pumped tickers PTCO and CLOW, as well as dozens of other pump and dump schemes, of which ZENO, XLIT, GBEN, SPCL, BTFL, POTG, RSRS, and PEPR are prominent, as well as BRKO, which was suspended by the SEC in March of 2016 and now trades by appointment on the Grey Market.

In addition to having represented plenty of dirty tickers, Lawler can be connected to several indicted con men/women, including Michael Todd Osborn (through VWIN) who is currently serving a 77 month stint for wire fraud and is newly charged for securities fraud; Jim Can aka Cem Can (through GBEN), who is currently cowering in a Turkish spider hole in hopes of avoiding being arrested and extradited on a grand jury indictment; Phil Kueber (through PEPR), who is awaiting sentencing under the same indictment; and, Caroline Winsor aka Caroline Meyers aka Caroline Danforth (through FOTCA AVOI VIOSF OCTX CPMCF and dozens more), who recently served a two year sentence in the USA for securities fraud and is now serving a similar sentence in Canada. Lawler has also been associated with disgraced pump and dump attorney, Luis Carrillo, and convicted securities fraud artist, Benjamin Kirk.

Lawler represents, VW Century, Inc. (VWIN) which was formerly pumped and dumped to death as Flexfridge (FXLR) and then acquired from notorious penny stock fraud artist, Shuan Passley. VWIN looked poised to be an upcoming and considerable scam, especially considering Osborn's participation and the Chinese relocation of its head office. It still may become such a scheme, if the aforementioned newsletters are willing to take a chance now that the SEC has served notice. Perhaps these newsletters will once again rebrand themselves in hopes of temporarily eluding the watchful eyes of the Enforcement Office.

I would be interested to see if a prima facie case could be made for accusing Lawler and/or his cohorts of operating an illegal shell factory. He filed the initial Form S-1 for EMMD and was quick to represent PTCO and EURI soon after Attorney John Root filed the initial S-1 for those companies, just ten days apart. Many of the other Lawler represented tickers had assets vended into them after the shell was created, resulting in a name and symbol change and followed by a promotion. In addition to John Root, one of Lawler's favorite providers of shells is Attorney Thomas Puzzo. Nami Corp. (NINK) is a newer shell that Puzzo created and then passed on to Lawler. A telltale forward split makes NINK appear as if it is a pump and dump in waiting.

Yet another Puzzo shell, Vilacto Bio Inc. (ZFLO) is now being represented by The Doney Law Firm, the same firm which represented the BRKO scam to which Lawler has been connected. While I haven't yet figured out if Lawler is involved in ZFLO, its Slovakian address and freshly executed forward split follows a template employed by past penny stock fraud schemes, and therefore makes ZFLO a likely candidate for a significant pump and dump effort.

PTCO and EURI were both promoted by the aforementioned group twice. PTCO was first promoted under its former symbol AREN. On both occasions, the EURI promotions were launched immediately following the conclusion of the AREN/PTCO promotions, making it curious that the SEC didn't also suspend PTCO in its sweep of Lawler represented tickers. During the course of the first promotion, I announced that I had filed litigation against AREN/PTCO for violations of the California anti-SPAM statute. I later settled with the company for a waiver of costs, after I became aware of newer case law that had rendered my complaint moot. Interestingly, PTCO had insisted that I include EURI in any settlement agreement and I acquiesced, but it would not be unreasonable to wonder why PTCO would give a damn about EURI. The answer is, of course, obvious. Apparently, the SEC thought so too.

Another pump and dump scheme in waiting, Band Rep Management (BNRM), identified Toronto Rock and Roll personality and now well-known estate designer, Sergio Galli, as its President with its S-1 filing. Sergio just happens to be an old family friend and I contacted him once I became aware of his purported position with the company. He has expressed his regret at agreeing to lend his name to the scheme and had done so at the behest of his brother-in-law. In spite of contrary statements made within SEC filings, Sergio claims (and I believe him) to have never controlled any BNRM stock or take part in any management activities/decisions, and was only removed as an officer and director at his behest. BNRM is yet another shell that was created by the Thomas Puzzo shell factory before being passed on to management represented by Lawler. Hopefully, this revelation and the apparent SEC vendetta against Lawler represented companies will derail the ability for BNRM to carry out its intended purpose.

May 11, 2017 Update:BNRM today changed its ticker to SKYI, reflecting its new name, Sky Century Investments.

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